APPEAL MADE TO PREMIER

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28386, 19 September 1957, Page 13

APPEAL MADE TO PREMIER

“Come Out Of Hiding”

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 18. Field-Marshal Sarit Thanarat, the Army Chief of Staff, who has seized power in . Thailand, today invited the deposed Premier, FieldMarshal Pibul Songgram, to come out of hiding and live “happily” in Thailand, the United Press reported from Bangkok. The agency said Marshal Sarit overthrew the Government in a bloodless pre-dawn coup yesterday after months of dissension among Cabinet Ministers “and dissatisfaction by the people with the Premier, who has been a political strong man for nearly a generation.” The United Press said the deposed Premier fled the capital, and ignored appeals by Bangkok radio to return. Marshal Sarit told a press conference he ‘ regretted” that the former Premier had not come out of hiding. “We all respect him and want him to stay in the country happily. When he comes back, I will salute him and beg him to stay wherever he likes.” The Bangkok correspondent of the agency said the political upheaval in Bangkok was not expected to affect Thailand’s strong pro-Western position. Most officials, he said, believed Marshal Pibul, a staunch friend of the United States, would return as soon as the situation calmed down. Marshal Sarit told reporters he believed Marshal Pibul had fled toward Cambodia, over the highway along the west coast of Thailand. However, other reports had the former leader taking refuge in the marine base at Sattahib on the west coast, where his son is commander. There also were rumours that he had taken refuge in the United States Embassy. Officials' and residents in Bangkok held little fears for Marshal Pibul’s safety, the agency reported. It said many would not be surprised if he were named an elder statesman or given some title of honour.